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Arizona Parole

Arizona parole is an alternative to fulfilling a decreed sentence for a certain population of Arizona inmates. Parole involves serving a partial sentence, as ordered by a judge, and serving the remainder of the sentence under close supervision. There are several types of paroles, which should not be confused with probation or pardon, although these entities are often supervised by the same governing bodies.

Arizona parole and its parolees are very frequently partnered with a transition program. These programs, used by many state departments of corrections, are used to help an inmate adjust when being released into society. While they are also used at the close of a sentence, they are effectively used during an inmate's release on parole. The added supervision of a parole officer seems to make transition programs more successful. They are especially helpful if the inmate has been incarcerated for a lengthy sentence and will have troubles adjusting to modern society.

While under continuing supervision, the parolee has to pay a monthly fee of at least 30 dollars, which is deposited in the victim compensation and assistance fund. The parole officer monitors and collects the fee.

Depending on the crime, the inmate may be paroled after serving two-thirds of the original sentence. He or she may earn good behavior credits in the form of one day of credit for every three days of good behavior. Some crimes and stipulations allow for a credited day based on only two days of good behavior.

If parole is awarded, the inmate will be required to follow the terms set before him by the board. Arizona parole can be revoked or restructured at any time if the parolee does not follow the mandates set forth by the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency. Sometimes restrictions are extremely light, but regardless, the parolee will be required to meet regularly with a parole officer and will also be required to report any behavior he or she partakes in that may constitute a violation of the parole demands. Failure to do so will likely result in a hearing and revocation of the parole privilege.

Arizona Board of Pardons Paroles

Parole first became available in the state of Arizona in 1901. The first governing board for Arizona parole consisted of the Governor, the Territorial Auditor, and another person appointed by the governor. This Board of Control was the precursor to Arizona's current board. Although the makeup has changed somewhat, the overall task is still quite similar. When the Legislature established the Board of Pardons and Paroles in 1913, the Board of Control was disbanded. This board still held a governor-appointed citizen, but also included the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Attorney General, to make another three-person body. The number of board members waffled between three and seven for over seventy-five years. In 1993, the name was officially changed to the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency. At this time, the January of 1994 cut off date for possible parolees was mandated.

Arizona's acting board for regulation of all parole issues is the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency. It is the board's responsibility to review cases of inmates who are eligible for parole and determine which of these prisoners should be released. The Arizona Board of Executive Clemency also determines under which conditions a parolee should be released. The board reports to the governor in all cases of Arizona parole. The board reviews each case according to the legal mandates and the Department of Correction's terms and makes a recommendation for parole?or denies it.

Currently, the board consists of five members and is assisted by a full staff. The five members are appointed to the board by the governor from a pool of qualified candidates as identified by a selection committee. The committee includes: the director of the department of public safety, the director of the state department of corrections, and three other citizens. The board has staggering terms, and three vacancies are announced at a time.

Board members are required to complete a four-week course detailing his or her expected duties. Much of the training taking place at these seminars is administered by existing board members. The term, once the course is completed, is five years. Terms expire the third Monday in January, five years from appointment to the board.

Unlike many states that appoint both a chairman of the board and an executive director to oversee finances and scheduling, both jobs are performed by Arizona's board chair. There is a main Administrative Services Officer in charge of all personnel and human resource issues. The Project Specialist is essentially the board's statistician, but also serves to maintain policies and monitor legislation. Hearing Officers are responsible for gathering the facts that the board will use when making a parole decision, whether it is granting parole or revoking it. There are several other administrative support positions to assist the main titleholders with their tasks.

The board meets monthly to review the parole petitions for inmates who committed an offense on or before January of 1994. The board operates on a calendar year and most inmates are required to serve fifteen years before consideration for parole. The board may do more than simply recommend an inmate to the governor for parole. The board may find advantages to placing the inmate on house arrest or releasing the criminal to a halfway house or rehabilitation center as opposed to recommending absolute discharge. There are many avenues and restrictions the board can take when reviewing a case, and each case is carefully considered on an individual basis.

The inmate has to personally fill out a detailed form, answering a host of questions that describe why he or she should be granted parole or a reduced sentence. The inmate has to detail the crime that was committed and may also be asked to explain how time served was spent. This could include positive efforts such as rehabilitation, classes, and planning for the future. The case file that is kept from the time the inmate is admitted to prison will be carefully studied. The severity of the crime, past criminal behavior, and incarcerated behavior will all be considered.

Aside from the inmate, the victim will also be notified when an offender is up for parole. Victims are entitled to appear in person at a hearing or speak via the written word. Victims can also fill out a form and be notified whenever there is a change or pending action with the perpetrator's case. Following the hearing for possible parole, most inmates receive notice the next day of the board's decision. While most of the time, parole is either granted or denied, some boards will stay their judgment while more information is gathered or the inmate completes classes or programs that the board feels will help the prisoner to adapt to rehabilitated life on the outside.

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